First time I saw an A-Just-A-Bubble, I thought someone was pranking me. "You fill it with water? On purpose?" Seemed backwards. Every other piece of fishing gear tries to keep water OUT.
But that's exactly what makes this little bobber so clever. The Double X Tackle A-Just-A-Bubble lets you dial in exactly how much weight you need for casting, while still floating your bait at whatever depth you want. Empty for short pitches. Half-full for medium casts. Topped off when you need to bomb it out there.
And here's the kicker—it works perfectly with hand reel fishing. The extra casting weight means you can launch lighter baits without adding bulky weights to your line. More distance, less gear. That's the kind of math we like.
What You'll Need
- Double X Tackle A-Just-A-Bubble (comes in various sizes)
- Your fishing line
- Water (the creek you're standing next to works great)
That's it. No tools. No complicated rigging. Just you and about thirty seconds of setup time.
Step 1: Thread Your Line Through the Bobber
See that black rubber stopper on one end? That's where your line goes in.
Push your line straight through the stopper and out the clear end of the bubble. The line should slide through smoothly—there's a tube running through the center that guides everything.
Pro tip: If your line doesn't want to cooperate, try wetting the tip first. Braid especially likes to be difficult sometimes. A little moisture makes it slide right through.
At this point, the yellow inner tube should be straight. Don't twist anything yet—that comes later.
Step 2: Add Water to Adjust Weight
Here's where it gets interesting. Pop off the clear end cap (it just pulls off) and add water.
How much? Depends on what you're trying to do:
- Empty or nearly empty: Maximum float, minimum casting weight. Good for close-range work or when you want the bubble to sit high.
- Quarter to half full: Nice middle ground. Enough weight to cast a decent distance, still plenty of buoyancy.
- Three-quarters to full: Maximum casting distance. The bubble will still float, but it'll ride lower in the water.
The clear body lets you see exactly how much water you've added. No guessing.
For hand reel fishing: I usually go about half full. It gives you enough weight to get a solid cast with your GoReel, but the bubble still floats well and doesn't drag your presentation down.
Step 3: Twist to Lock
This is the clever part. See that yellow inner tube? Give it a few twists.
As you twist, the tube coils around your line and locks everything in place. The bobber won't slide up and down your line anymore—it stays exactly where you set it.
Want to adjust depth later? Just untwist, slide the bobber where you need it, and twist again. No spring-loaded clips. No tiny rubber stoppers to fumble with. Just twist and fish.
How many twists? Three or four usually does it. You want it snug enough to stay put during casting but not so tight that you can't adjust it later.
Rigging Tips for Hand Reel Fishing
The A-Just-A-Bubble shines with hand reels for a few reasons:
Casting weight without bulk. Hand reels don't have the mechanical advantage of a spinning reel, so getting distance with light baits can be tricky. Adding water to your bubble gives you casting weight that's literally free—just dunk and go.
Adjustable on the fly. Found fish feeding deeper? Pour out some water and add a longer leader. Surface action? Top off the bubble and fish it high. You can dial in your rig without retying anything.
Simple rigging. Thread your main line through the bubble, tie on a leader (18-24 inches is a good starting point), and add your hook. The whole rig packs down to nothing and sets up in under a minute.
Common Setups That Work
For panfish and bass near the surface:
- A-Just-A-Bubble with minimal water
- 12-18 inch leader
- Small fly, beetle, or live bait
For trout in streams:
- A-Just-A-Bubble half full
- 24-36 inch fluorocarbon leader
- Small spinner, nymph, or worm
For casting distance (like reaching structure):
- A-Just-A-Bubble nearly full
- Leader length to match the depth you're targeting
- Whatever's working that day
Troubleshooting
Bubble won't stay in place: Add more twists to the inner tube. If it's still slipping, your line might be too thin or slick. Try roughing up that section of line slightly or adding a small knot above the bubble as a stopper.
Can't get enough casting distance: Add more water. If it's already full and you need more weight, consider sizing up to a larger A-Just-A-Bubble.
Bubble sitting too low in the water: Pour out some water. Remember, more water = more weight but lower float position.
Water leaking out: Make sure the cap is seated properly. These things are designed to hold water during casts, but the cap needs to be snug.
Why This Bobber Works for Pocket-Sized Fishing
Look, you could carry a tackle box full of different weighted bobbers. Or you could carry one A-Just-A-Bubble that does the job of all of them. For hand reel fishing, where every ounce and every cubic inch matters, that's a no-brainer.
It's also dead simple. No complicated mechanisms, no parts to lose, no batteries (looking at you, lighted bobbers). Just physics—water weighs something, and you can add or remove it as needed.
The twist-lock system means you're not fiddling with tiny accessories to set your depth. On a cold morning when your fingers aren't cooperating, that matters more than you'd think.
The Bottom Line
The Double X Tackle A-Just-A-Bubble is one of those pieces of gear that makes you wonder why everything isn't designed this simply. Thread it on, add water, twist to lock, fish.
For hand reel anglers, it solves a real problem—getting casting distance without adding permanent weight to your rig. The adjustability means one bubble handles everything from short pitches to long bombs.
Is it essential gear? No fishing accessory really is. But it's useful, packable, and actually clever. And it costs about the same as a cup of coffee.
Keep one in your pocket kit. You'll use it more than you expect.
Pair it with the right hand reel. The GoReel Pro gives you 60 feet of premium braid and fits in your pocket right next to that A-Just-A-Bubble. Everything you need for your next creek adventure, no tackle box required.
